Thank you so much for asking this question of these students. It is very helpful to me to hear what has made a big impact on them as they were growing up in Compassion. I write my kids often, but I sometimes wonder if I am writing as effectively as I could.

That was very moving. I pray that I will be able to make that kind of impact on my sponsor kids someday! That’s what drew me to Compassion, the opportunity to invest in a child’s life, not just give money. Money alone can’t heal the hurts of growing up in such difficult circumstances.

Beautiful words. I especially love what Jimmy said about that we write being dreams that we put in children and what Richmond said about the importance of saying I love you. I hope that their past sponsors have seen these videos. I think if I saw my sweet Caroline on a video like this 12 years from now, my heart would just burst.

What a moving video clip. Thank you for sharing with us. I have some replies to letters that I need to work on this weekend but will also be working on letters to all of my children.

After hearing what Tony said, it made me wonder if it's possible to request an older child like Tony who has lost his or her sponsor and has not received letters from that sponsor. No child should be without that kind of encouragement and support and when the time comes for me to sponsor another child, I would love for that child to be a child like Tony. Does anyone know if it would be possible?

Thanks for posting this discussion among the Moody Scholars. I have wondered what the appropriate balance between sharing issues I'm struggling with and sharing too much information. Earlier this year with my most recent sponsored child, I mentioned how I needed patience to await my sponsored child's first letter and then first non-introduction form letter, which I figured he could relate to. I had a great relationship with my last sponsored child (about 5 years before his parents removed him from the program) and it's definitely been strange building a relationship again with a ten year old boy and at times I feel bewildered about what to write. Thanks again Compassion!

I have to confess, I don't know a lot about the Moody Scholars program — but the scholars in these videos are AMAZING. What a great message they have for us sponsors on such an important topic. Everything they said was so beautifully put.

I know the topic of this post is letter writing — not the Moody Scholars — but I just have to say, I hope that we see these folks end up not only in ministry, but in government, someday. The whole time I was watching this video, I could only think what a blessing these people would be to their countries in a political capacity. Government can have such a big impact on children…

I so appreciate this discussion. I have sponsored a Haitian child since 2007. At first I wrote to him very regularly and then my world began to fall apart with death of my mother whom I had not seen in almost 13 years by her choice, the failure of my marriage of only 3 years as my husband who had never been married before decided he no longer wanted to be married (we are both christians), my adopted 29yr. old daughter telling me that she thought I was a worthless mother and just a woman who raised her and her two adopted brothers. All the time I thought about my little boy in Haiti and wondered what I could possibly write to him in the midst of so much of my own pain. Now with this horrific earthquake I am worried sick about him and his family and after listening to this discussion I know more than anything how much he is going to need to hear about the love of Jesus in the midst of tragedy and that it is way past time for me to reach back out to him in love and support. Thank you for this discussion.

this brought tears to my eyes. I have just watched this video 3 times and hear more each time. Just hearing from them the importance of what I am doing, is so encouraging. It gives me a small glimpse of their lives before bonding with their sponsor and now afterwards, wow!

incredible video! thank you so much. This really puts into perspective how much God is working through us to show His amazing love. I am very encouraged and have a better idea of what I should write to my sponsored child.

I don’t know much about using the computer, so I came to your blog after asking God to show me how. I knew that I wanted to know more about writing letters. Thank you so much for the video. We have 4 sponsored children. Each live in different situations , which I can not even imagine. I write many letters and I also love hearing back from the translaters and pastors about our childs family, health and it helps me pray for that project knowing more about the situation. Do keep writing your child. We don’t have to write much about our lives in America but about God’s love for them and our love for them. Praise God for Compassion.

This was an awesome interview. God bless everyone of you. I plan to make my letters to my sponsored child more personal, more encouraging, more hopeful, and filled with God’s love and blessings. It was wonderful to hear what a difference these letters have made in the lives of these young people.

Awesome inspiration for me as sponsor of three children. I had no idea that letters meant so much to the children I sponsor.
Thank you to Compassion for the opportunity to share Christ with the nations of our world through children.

I saw Wes introduce these Scholars at Founder’s Week (via streaming ) in February. Their comments in this video brought me to tears. I just wrote to my sponsored child for the first time last week. They have encouraged me to become a frequent writer and not worry about writing long letters.

It is so nice to hear your stories. They are so helpful, and we are so grateful and inspired hearing from you. Thank you! I’m a new sponsor and this is inspiring me to know what to communicate in my letters.

I am currently sponsoring two young girls; one in Peru, and one in Brazil. The sponsorship is new for both of them, and after a 20-year absence, I recently became involved with Compassion again. This video served to remind me of the importance my letters may have in the lives of Ana (8) and Talita (10) not only in the present, but possibly for years to come. Yes, it is a challenge to know what to write in each letter, without it sounding like a repeat of previous ones sent. However; after hearing these former sponsored chidren speak, I’m comvinced of the impact of “repeated words” such as “I love you”, “I’m proud of you”, and “Jesus is your friend, and so am I”. I will never again write a letter to a a Compassion child that isn’t laced with many words of Christian love and encouragement. I will also be more open and honest about the struggles I faced, when I was their age. Thank you, for this great video!

I actually paused this video and spent a good 15 minutes looking for stationery in my mom’s house. Couldn’t find any, so I will have to wait till I get home tonight. BUT. I will go print off my list of why letters are important to give to my grandma today, as she has not yet written a letter to her sponsored child

We have been following the Compassion suggestion of having only 1 person in our family write to the sponsored children to avoid confusion. So, we’ve been letting our 2 kids write to their own sponsored friends for the past few yrs. Sometimes it’s hard to get kids to realize that their friend is waiting to hear from them in the midst of their busy lives. We screen their letters & help them edit. However, after watching this, I think we, as parents, will supplement & put own own encouragements & thoughts.

Thank you for this video. Very insightful & helpful to know how to encourage these kids.

Thanks so much for posting this video. It’s very inspiring! I know my letters and prayers do make a difference, but it’s also good to hear examples of differences they have made for children who received them.

I know each person is different, but everyone needs to know that someone is thinking of them and praying for them.

Thank you so much for this great interview. I do try to write to my sponsored child who is in Ecuador and to encourage him, particularly in his walk with the Lord. I really care for him and pray a lot for him and listening to these young people who were sponsored really helped me understand the impact of our letters on the children and how much hope and love we can show them, from a distance. Going forward, I will try to make my letters more regular and more meaningful and as one recommended, to follow through on previous subjects.

This was so helpful and beautiful! My sponsored child just turned 13 and as our oldest son has just turned 13 as well, I know that our communication has to change in order for us to be able to understand each other better. I had wondered how to deepen our relationship, as I want our sponsored child to truly understand how much I love him and how important he is. Thank you for this video!